Manama: Bahrain’s justice ministry has filed a lawsuit against Al Wefaq National Islamic Society to suspend its activities for three months until it rectifies its status.
The ministry said that Al Wefaq had failed to abide by the rules and regulations in holding four general assemblies, making them null and void, and the society needed to address the situation.
In a statement carried by Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the ministry said that it had contacted Al Wefaq on the situation several times, but the society did not address the violations and did not abide by the required commitment to “the objectives of legitimate political work based on openness and transparency”.
The ministry added that the irregularities by Al Wefaq included holding two general assemblies without following the quorum rules and calling for two others with a total lack of transparency.
“The society has also adopted a peculiar endorsement concept by giving a committee set up within it and headed by a [cleric] the right to accept or reject candidates for the post of secretary-general and deputy secretary-general,” the ministry said. “The move is contrary to the foundations of democratic practices and imposes limits on the will of the general assembly.”
The ministry said that such irregularities were “a substantial violation in the procedures to form the components of the society and choose their leaders as well as to engage in activities and organise relations among members on a democratic basis”.
“Transparency in political activism under the law is one of the cornerstones of democratic development and a major component of the pioneering reforms project,” the ministry said.
